Skirt-supporter.



UNITED STATES Patented March 29, 1904.

A PATENT OFFICE;

THEODORE N. SCHEBLER, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRYE. BALLUFF, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

SKIRT-SUPPORTER- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo..755,'798, .azed March 29, 1904.

Application filed February 7, 1903. erialNo. 142,380. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE N. SOHEBLER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Davviate danger of tearing the shirt-waist at itspoint ofconnection with the supporting device.

With these and other objects in view, as Wlll appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the same consists in thenovelconstruction and combination of parts ofa skirt-supporter, as will befully described and-claimed.

' In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, andin which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, thereare illustrated three forms of embodiment of the invention capable ofcarrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that theelements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, propor'tion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the spiritthereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the rear portion of'a partof a hu man figure, exhibiting the device of this inventionapplied to position thereon. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section,showing more particularly the coaction between the skirt-supporter andthe garments. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of one form of supportingmember, the securing members being shown as applied, but illustrated indotted lines. Fig. {I is a fragmentary elevation of another form ofsupporting member. Fig. 5 is a vertical sechereinafter strip ofresilient metal, preferably one that is nonicorrosive in character andadapted read ily to be flexed, thus to cause it closely to conform tothe figure of'the wearer. The mem- 6o ber is provided with a pluralityof transverse slots 2in this instance two and through which is adaptedto be passed a belt or band 3 and to be disposed on the outer sidethereof, thus to be held away from the person of the user. The terminalsof the belt are provided with suitable fastening means not necessary tobe shown, and the belt is secured around'the waist. of the wearerbeneath the shirt-waist.

The supporting member is further provided with two headed studs orprojections 4, which in order to reduce liability oftearing theshirtwaist are inclosed in a rubber sheathing 4c, the studs being bypreferencedisposed close to the upper edge of the plate, thus to liesubstantially in line with the crest of the hips. In addition toshielding the shirt-waist from liability of tearing the rubber sheathingcauses the shirt-waist to cling to the studs, and thus prevent slippage.Each securing member5, of which there are two in this instance, issecured to the inner side of the terminal portion of'the skirt-band, asclearly shown in Fig. 1, and is constructed of a piece of sheet metalprovided with a keyholeslot 6 and at its 8 5 periphery with roundedprojections 7, each of which has an opening 8 to receive the thread forsecuring the device in position upon the skirt-band. The keyhole-slotsare disposed at anupward-inclined angle with relation to 9 theskirt-band, and their smaller ends are disposed toward the edges of theplacket formed by the terminal portionof the waistband and hip portionof the skirt, so that when-the securing members are hooked intoengagement with the studs 4 accidental separation of the parts will bepositively obviated for the reason that the constant outward pressureexerted on the skirt-band by the body of the wearer will operate alwaysto cause the shanks of the stud to rest within the said smaller ends.

It is a desideratum in devices of this character to obviate theemployment of safety-pins or other fastening means which have to bepassed through the material of the shirt-waist in order to hold it down,for the reason that in continued use the shirt-Waist frequently becomestorn or rendered totally unfit to be worn. In the device of the presentinvention this is obviated in the following manner: When the belt orband 3 is positioned around the corset and the shirt-Waist is donned,the latter lies over, and thus conceals both the supporting member andthe studs 4. When the securing members are hooked over the studs, thematerial of the shirt-waist is forced into the neck or small portions ofthe keyhole-slots and is thus securely pinched or held there againstpossibility of separation, as will be clearly understood by reference toFig. 2. As the securing members 5 and the shanks and heads of the studsare incased in rubber or some other material other than metal, it willfollow that no tearing or cutting of the shirtwaist Will ensue. It willof course be understood that in the act of bringing the securing membersinto engagement with the studs 4 the members of the Waistband will bemoved in opposite directionsthat is to say, the left-hand member of thewaistband will be moved to the right and the right-hand member moved tothe leftthus to bring the heads of the studs opposite the enlargedportions of the keyhole"- slots, and when the skirt-band members arereleased the studs will be positively held associated with the securingmembers from the lateral pressure exerted on the waistband by thewearer.

In the form of supporting member shown in Fig. 4 the studs 4 are adaptedto slide in slots 10, thus further to reduce liability of tearing theshirt-waist by permitting them to yield under undue strain. The stud 4is provided with flanges 11 and 11, respectively, to bear againstopposite sides of the said member. Owing to the resiliency of thecovering 4 and the expansive force exerted thereby upon the disk 11, aswell as the pull upon the disk 11, the two disks will be caused tofrictionally bind upon the plate 1, whereby the stud 9 will be permittedto slide only when subjected to an undue strain.

The securing device illustrated in Fig. 7 is substantially the same asthat illustrated in Fig. 6, the only difference being in providing acovering of suitable materialsuch as cloth, rubber, or a fabricto give afinished appearance thereto.

While the devices of this invention are exceedingly simple inconstruction, they will be found thoroughly efficient and durable in usefor the purpose designed and may be readily applied to position for wearwithout necessitating any change in the structural arrangement ofwaistbands of existing garments.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A device of theclass described, comprising a supporting member provided withbeltreceiving openings and having slots, headed studs movable in theslots, frictional engaging devices carried by the studs and a tensiondevice carried by the stud and exerting pressure upon the disks.

2. Adevice of the class described, comprising a supporting memberprovided with means of attachment for a belt, movable devices adjustableon said member and frictionally engaging the same.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a supporting member,provided with guides,studs frictionally working in the guides andresilient tension devices carried by the studs.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with aslotted plate, studs working in the slots and having heads bearingagainst one face of the plate, and resilient sleeves on the studs andbearing upon the face of the plate opposite to the head.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a belt-plate havingtransverse slots, headed studs movable in the slots, frictional engagingterminals on the studs and bearing against one side of the belt-plateand a resilient sleeve on each stud and bearing against the oppositeside of the belt-plate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

THEODORE N. SOHEBLER.

Witnesses:

FRANK BALLUFF, CARL LE BUHUR.

